It Was A Heck Of A Job, Fredo

SPIN

The Godfather didn't send him out on a lake in a rowboat and have someone put one behind his ear. Instead, he gave him a title and a stage and let him shoot himself.

With the political passing of Attorney General Alberto ``Fredo'' Gonzales Monday, the old gang is nearly all gone.

The Bush inner circle, the uber loyalists, the ayes of Texas, have left the building. They have cut and run for home. As Don Meredith used to sing, ``Turn out the lights, the party's over.''

Of course, no one will admit this. They will deny that the increasing louder quack-quack-quacking of a lame duck is behind their departures.

Nor will you hear any of them screaming ``show me the money.''

No, they will couch their departures in more noble terms.

At his press conference, Fredo didn't say exactly why he was stepping down. Maybe he forgot. He does, after all, have the worst memory of any attorney general in recent memory. More probably, though, Gonzales was calling it quits to spend more time with his family.

That's why Karl Rove said he was leaving. Rove said he wanted to spend more time with his wife and college-bound son. Wonder if Karl will be living in the dorm? Wonder if he will take the top or bottom bunk?

White House counsel and longtime Bush aide Dan Bartlett abandoned ship in July to ``spend more time with my family.'' His first call wasn't to Disney World, though. It was to the lawyer he hired to sift through job prospects.

Sure, the vice president will hang on for the duration, but then he's involved in a power-sharing arrangement.

And Barney will be a bitter-ender, because that's what dogs do.

About the only other person sure to go down with the ship of state will be Condi. If, in fact, Condi is still around. When was the last time anyone heard anything from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice? Maybe she left to spend more time with her piano?